Stone circle, Glackadrumman, Co. Donegal

Stone circle, Glackadrumman, Co. Donegal

The Bocan stone circle in Glackadrumman, County Donegal, sits on the western slopes of a low hill, offering sweeping views in every direction except eastward.

Stone circle, Glackadrumman, Co. Donegal

What remains today are seven standing stones, each between one and two metres tall, along with several fallen and broken pieces that partially outline what was once a circular enclosure roughly 20 metres across. The surviving stones cluster mainly in the northwest and southeast sections of the circle, with the southwest quadrant showing signs of wear from livestock that likely used the stones as scratching posts over the years.

Historical accounts paint a richer picture of the site’s past. In 1816, Shaw Mason documented twelve upright stones forming a circle about sixty feet in diameter, nearly double what stands today. He also noted that graves containing earthen urns had been frequently discovered at Bocan, suggesting the site held significant ceremonial or burial importance for ancient communities. Two possible outlier stones to the east, mentioned in records from 1949, have since vanished without trace.



The site now occupies a large, recently reclaimed grazing field, though its original form has been somewhat obscured by time and agricultural activity. Field clearance stones scattered throughout the interior and along sections of the perimeter make it challenging to distinguish the monument’s original features from later additions. Despite these changes, the Bocan stone circle remains an evocative reminder of prehistoric Ireland, when such monuments served as focal points for ritual, burial, and community gathering across the landscape.

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Glackadrumman, Co. Donegal
55.27216717, -7.14812377
55.27216717,-7.14812377
Glackadrumman 
Stone Monuments 

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